Smoke alarms are your first line of defense in the event of a fire.  Smoke alarms come in two main different types.  Ionization and photoelectric.

Ionization smoke alarms have a ionization chamber inside the smoke alarm unit itself.  The smoke alarm chamber consist of two plates about a centimeter apart.  One of the plates is charged positive by the battery or transformer in AC models and the other plates is negative.  Alpha particles constantly released by the americium knock electrons off of the atoms in the air, ionizing the oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the chamber. The positively-charged oxygen and nitrogen atoms are attracted to the negative plate and the electrons are attracted to the positive plate, generating a minuet, constant electrical current. Upon smoke entering the chamber, the smoke particles attach to the ions and neutralize them, so they do not reach the plate. The drop in current between the plates triggers the alarm.

Photoelectric smoke alarms have an internal chamber with a light beam.  When smoke enters the chamber it blocks the light from entering the photoelectric sensor causing an alarm to sound.  Smoke may also cause the light beam to scatter creating an inconsistent pattern on the photocell causing the smoke alarm to sound.  Photoelectric chambers can detect a smoldering fire faster than most ionization type smoke alarms.

Smoke alarms are most commonly seen as battery operated units in older homes.  Battery units are also common in situations were a smoke alarm is added and AC power is not accessible.  AC units power the smoke alarm with standard AC current from the homes wiring.  AC units are common in newer homes.  Current new construction code requires smoke alarms to be AC with a battery built into the unit as a back up power source.

Current smoke alarms used in new construction homes are AC and battery combination units as stated above.  They also require a dual sensing smoke alarm unit.  The most common dual sensing combination is either photoelectric and ionization or a combination ionization and carbon monoxide unit.

Carbon monoxide also called the invisible killer, is odorless and colorless gas.  Carbon monoxide is most commonly created in the home when unburnt or improperly vented heating equipment releases the gas.  Carbon monoxide can be created from natural gas heaters, wood burners, and oil burners.  Carbon monoxide can also enter the home from the exhaust of a running vehicle or generator.

Carbon monoxide effect some people easier than others.  People such as elderly, pregnant women, infants, and people with emphysema, asthma, or heart disease can suffer the effects of carbon monoxide much quicker than a healthy person.

We can install most major brands of smoke alarms.  We offer smoke alarm installation for Kiddie and First Alert.  In addition to Kiddie and First alert, we also offer smoke alarm installation for USI, and BRK smoke alarms.  We offer smoke alarm installation for AC units with batter backup, AC only units, and battery only units.  We highly recommended the AC with battery backup units for superior performance.  We also offer smoke alarm installation for interconnected units.  This type is highly recommended.  They function as following:  When one smoke alarm unit goes into alarm mode it causes the other smoke alarms to sound an alarm.  If access limits being able to connect the smoke alarm units we offer a wireless type smoke alarm installation to insure the units are properly interconnected.

The list of rules to be followed when installing new electrical systems into a building are related to the specific rules of the state, as well as certain minimum requirements laid down by Federal law. So in some senses the United States does not have a unified Electrical Building Code, because often there are variations between different states.

It was to address exactly this issue that the National Fire Protection Association, a panel of nineteen different bodies, began publishing the National Electrical Code (NEC) in 1897, and now every three years, in order to arrive at a single source of rules that should govern electrical installations. The current version was published in August 2010 and runs to over 1000 pages.

Whilst the NEC is not law as such, in practice it has been adopted by most states as their set of rules for electrical installations and wiring in buildings (with a few changes here and their depending on the state you are in), and so is now in practice the Electrical Building Code for the United States.

You can read the full 1000 pages plus version online for free here: Building Codes

This is the book that all Journeyman Electricians will consume when undertaking their training, as it is pretty much the standard version across the country.

Though there are some differences between the states, and you can see the individual requirements for your state here: State Regulations

Some of the key NEC rules that need to be followed when installing a new electrical system into a building are:

If you are planning on installing electrical wiring then you should refer to the NEC and your local Electrical Building Code for specifics and to the link above for any state specific requirements that you need to know.

If you need someone to help you with wiring, installing a light fixture, or updating your fuse box or electrical panel, you know that you need an electrician. Such jobs require special training and skill and are generally too dangerous to be done as DIY projects. However, you probably don’t know what type of electrician you need or even that there are different types of electricians out there with different levels of qualifications.

Licensed electricians fall into two main categories—journeymen electricians and master electricians. A journeyman electrician has:

This training qualifies him or her to work alone on most electrical installations and repairs and on both homes and businesses.

A master electrician has built upon his or her knowledge as a journeyman electrician to reach the most prestigious level of the electrical profession. In order to become a master electrician, a person must first become a journeyman electrician and work in that capacity for a number of years (the time varies by state). After that time, an electrician can become a master electrician by taking additional training and passing a master electrician licensing exam. To keep this designation, a master electrician is required to complete a set number of hours of continuing education courses each year on topics such as new code requirements, products, and procedures.

In addition to the work of a journeyman electrician, a master electrician can supervise a crew of journeymen and work as a building inspector. As a DC-area homeowner, you’d want to hire a master electrician if you were having your entire house rewired or undergoing another extensive project. If your job requires more than one electrician to complete the project, you will likely be set up with a master electrician along with journeymen electricians.

At Kolb Electric, we employ both journeymen and master electricians, with only the top skills and credentials. We understand that you probably aren’t familiar with the different types of electricians, so we’re careful to send out only the best person for your particular job.

To learn more about our team of electricians and their qualifications, call us at 877 287-1179 or contact us online to schedule your appointment. We’ve been helping Mid-Atlantic homeowners with their electrical needs since 1925 and have both journeymen electricians and master electricians on staff to provide you with the best technical expertise for your project at the best cost.

When a fire breaks-out, most people just assume that it’s been caused by some inflammable substance. While that might be the case, it’s important to keep in mind that fires can also be caused by electricity. The one thing to keep in mind is that an electrical fire can’t be doused by water. Faulty or old electrical installations can lead to a fire and cause untold damage to life and property.

There are times when the electrical equipment or appliances in an electrical system can be the cause of overheating & overload, which can end up causing a fire. So, exactly what is it that causes an electrical fire? There are three main reasons, let’s take a detailed look at what these are and what can be done to prevent this from occurring:

Some properties have wiring that is decades old and electrical wires do tend to deteriorate with age. In fact, if the wiring in your house is over 15 years old, the recommendation is that you should get the entire property rewired. Older wiring wasn’t designed to bear the electricity load that current-day appliances demand. At times the electrical contractor might have cut corners and installed wiring of poor quality and this can lead to a similar problem, both of which can result in fires.

Arcing is quite a common problem with electrical wiring. As mentioned earlier, most homes have a range of heavy-duty electrical appliances. When you run a number of these appliances simultaneously in your home, it results in overloading and overheating of the wires. If the wiring is old, it will get heated up which will cause the insulation around it to melt – this results in arcing and an electrical fire may erupt too.

There are times when electrical wires are just too close to an external heat source which causes the outer insulating sheath of the wiring to melt. If this goes unnoticed, it can result in an arcing and fire.

Regardless of what has caused the electrical fire, if you attempt to contain it by pouring water on it that will escalate the issue. Water doesn’t have any effect on electrical fires; in fact, if you try to use water to douse an electrical fire, you can get electrocuted. What you need to deal with an electrical fire is a Class C fire extinguisher.

This type of extinguisher has dry chemicals that help contain the fire. Depending on how severe the fire is, it might be possible to completely bring it under control using a Class C fire extinguisher. If you don’t have this extinguisher, baking soda might help to some extent.

In case there is a break-out of fire on your property, the first thing you should do is switch off the power-mains; this is effective in containing the fire. Ideally every home and commercial establishment should have a Class C fire extinguisher or two, based on the size of the property and that should be used in case of any fire in the electrical wiring. An electrical fire is an electrical emergency and it’s crucial that you keep the number of a local, reliable electrician handy.

Never try to fix any electrical issues on your own. That can only lead to more complications and will compromise the safety of your property. We at Allround Electrical can rectify all types of electrical faults and we provide a range of electrical services. For more information, contact our friendly team today at this number – 1300 169 263. You can also write to us at this email address. You may also reach us through this online contact form.

Thanks for reading,1300 169 263